Exploding ship toy



June 7, 1949. H. c. HOLT 2,472,297

EXPLODING SHIP TOY Filed Oct. 5, 1945 g ve-mfg];

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES EXPLODIN G SHIP TOY Harry G. Holt, Cranston, B. I.

Application October 5, 1945, Serial No. 620,439

5 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, particularly toys in which the parts thereof are so assembled that when struck with sufficient force they will separate and shatter in a manner to simulate an explosion of the toy.

Toys of these general characteristics are usually provided with a rigid body portion to which is detachably secured certain parts which will become separated under the action of a force usually furnished by means of a contained charged spring. In order to release the force of the spring a particular location such as a target is provided for receiving the impact of a blow. In other toys, a delayed action is provided by means of a soluble element which upon dissolving will release the force of the charged spring. This latter referred to toy does not require an impact to set the spring in action.

An object of this invention is the provision of a toy in which the body as well as the superstructure thereof will collapse in a manner to simulate an explosion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy construction which will require relative movement between parts of the toys to release the actuating force.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy construction which will normally require a plurality of consecutive impacts thereon to release the actuating force.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy of the above characteristics in which the trigger will have a delayed action for releasing the actuating force.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy construction in which relative proportions of the parts thereof will control to a certain extent the delayed action in releasing the socalled explosive force.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a toy embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is a view in perspective illustrating the parts of the toy in relative position as may occur upon being separated to simulate an explosion of the toy.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view showing relative positions of adjacent sides of the toy in the separation thereof embodied in a toy battleship designated generally.

Ill. I make the sides H and I2 of the hull of any suitable material having the required resilient characteristics to permit being deformed and held under tension in such form and then bein capable of returning to initial form upon the tension thereon being released. Materials having such characteristics may be thin resilient sheet metal, thin resilient wooden slabs, manufactured board, and sheet plastic materials. Means for detachably securing the sides II and I2 to each other may take various forms, that herein shown being in the form of a hook [3 provided at either end of the hull, with the free end portion M of the hook overlying and in frictional engagement with the end portion of the adjacent side of the hull.

When the sides H and I2 are made of a metal, it may be more simple and convenient, for reasons of manufacture, to merely bend one end' portion thereof in a hook formation as shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 9. When the sides of the hull are made of a material in which it may not be feasible or practical for reason of manufacture, to bend the end portion thereof into a hook formation, the hook may be provided as a separate element as shown at iii in Fig. '7 and attached to the sides of the hull in any suitable manner, such as by rivets iii. In some instances a hook l9 may be entirely detachable from the sides of the hull, as shown in Fig. 8. However, in all formations of hook wherein a delayed action for the separation of the sides of the hull is desired, the portion of the hook which overlies the adjacent side of the hull should extend in a plane and-on a curvature substantially following the curvature of the sides of the hull at the pointed end thereof, in order to provide the required frictional contact therebetween. The-sides II and is are identical and on the outer surface thereof there may be displayed by proper character such appointments as portholes, gangways, and so forth.

In order to properly curve the hull a spreader 20 is provided. This is positioned between the sides I l and I2 in engagement therewith at a location centrally thereof. The length of the spreader and the area of contact with the sides of the ship determine to some extent the delayed action for separating the sides of the hull. The spreader Detachably mounted centrally upon the deck i a superstructure 2'1 having an opening 28 in,

which is received the reduced end of an element 29 representing a conning tower and openings 30' for receiving cylindrical elements 3| which represent smokestacks. This portion 21 may merely rest upon the decks or may be provided as shown.

with an opening 32 extending inwardly therein from the lower surface thereof to receive a pin 33 secured to the deck portion 23 in any suitable manner such as by frictional fit in a proper opening in the deck. Each deck portion 23 and 24,

also detachably mounts a cylindrical block 34 by means of an opening 35111 the lower portion thereof receiving a pin 36 attached to the deck in a manner similar to' the pin 33. From the block 34' there extend dowels 'or like elements 31. These two assemblies each simulate a turret and guns protruding therefrom.

In order to provide a charge for causing a sudden separation of the parts of the ship in a manner imitating an explosion, I provide a mecha niisin in the form of a torsion spring 38, the arms 39 of which are embedded in similar dowel like elements 40'. The arms 39 of the spring are moved toward each other to charge the spring which positions the elements 40in lengthwise contiguous relation to be received in a slot 4| (see Fig. located centrally in the spreader 20. This'spreader is provided with an opening 42 which extends in a plane at right angles to the plane of the slot 4| and receives therein a pin 43' which has a rounded end 44' and is of a length such that whenthe sides of the hull are in assembled relation one end will be flush with the outer edge of the spreader and the rounded end will protrude intos'l'ot 4| a distance sufficient so as to engage the elements 40' to retain the spring in the charged position. The pin 43 is prevented from being moved out of slot 4| under pressure of the spring 38 by the stifiness of the sides.

In order to release the spring from the charged position, a projectile, which may be in the form of a marble indicated at 45 in Fig". 1, is rolled to strike either side of the hull, or the projectile may be fired from a toy cannon to" make the action more realistic. The jar of the impact will cause a slight displacement in the sides of the hull and the normal inherent tendency of the sides to straighten will cause a slight longitudinal separation at the ends of the hull or a creeping outwardly of the ends of the hull from beneath the hook portion l4, as shown in dot and dash line in the lower view of Fig. 6. After several similar impacts, the sides of the hull will have separated sufliciently for the ends thereof to es= tape from beneath the hook portion l4 and; permit the pin 43 under pressure of spring 39 to be moved out of the slot 4|. The sudden release of the spring will cause one of the elements 40 to strike with sufiicient force against the bottom of the deck portions to raise the same and objects thereon vertically. Simultaneously, the sides of the hull will have disengaged from each other, the entire action simulating the eifect of an ex- DIQSiOIlzOf the toy.

I have shown the invention as applied to a toy ship; however, it is conceivable that the principle herein described may be applied to various toys of other forms. I have shown the portions of the hooks 4 as extending substantially parallel to theside of the hull which it overlays. This portion of the hook, however, may be bent into a form so as-n ot-to provide such a relatively large area of frictional contact so that the delayed action of the imitation explosion may be reduced in. time if found desirable.

1. A toy comprising a pair of normally straight flexible. resilient members with their ends in adjacency, at least one pair of adjacent ends being held in wedge shape adjacency'bya hook on one member extending over and sli'd'ably' frictionally engaging the surface of a portion of the other member along one of the surfaces of the wedge, means at the other pair of adjacent ends to connectsaiden'ds forrelative longitudinal movement, a block extending between and frictionally engaging said members intermediate their pairs of adjacent ends and. spreading said members apart between their ends causing, at least one of said members to be bowed having an inherent tendency tostraighten thereby urging said hook and its engaged portion together along one of saidwedge surfaces-whereby repeated jarring of said members causes said hook to creep along the wedge-like surface it engages until. disengaged.-

2. A toy as in claim 1 wherein said block has ends out at right angles to its longest dimension to engagesaid members; I

3. A toy'asin claim 1 wherein a superstructure is supported by said flexible members.

4.- A toy as in claim 1 wherein a superstructure in several parts is supported by said flexible members.

5. A toy as in claim 1 wherein a superstructureissupported by said flexible members and means are contained within said block and-released by the outward movement of. said members to raise said superstructure as said members move outward'ly.

HARRY C. HOLT.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,177 Koim Apr. 8, 1919 2,052,841 ODonnell Sept; 1, 1936 

